A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of row upon row of eastern Red bud trees, swaying fragile wind chimes hung on delicate branches. Two more memorial trees now line Fort Stewart's Warriors Walk in honor of two soldiers who died last month while deployed to Iraq. A tree dedication was held Thursday to honor them.

Friends and family members listened to prayers and poems. Two young girls flanked their mother in the shade of a tent as their father, Capt. Michael P. Cassidy, was remembered.

"I called him my gentle giant," Cassidy's widow, Johanna Cassidy, said. "He died doing what he loved. We were so proud of him."Cassidy and her daughters, Catherine, just turned 11, and Amber, 9, wept amidst hugs and words of condolence.

For more of this story see the print edition of Friday's Coastal Courier.